Hostess Union Delusional, Thinks New Owner Would Pay Workers More

The union, which was behind the strike at Hostess Brands that was cited by the company in its decision to shut down operations, is hopeful that not only will a buyer emerge to save the company, but a new owner would offer higher wages than they were previously receiving.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Frank Hurt, president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union which represented 5,600 workers at Hostess, told the paper that a buyer could be encouraged to offer worker’s a better deal after seeing the negative reaction to Hostess’s proposal.

Say what? The union head thinks that because the workers resoundingly rejected the company’s contract proposal which was aimed at cutting costs that a new owner would automatically pay the workers more?

What universe is he living in?

There have been plenty of rumors swirling around that buyers are looking into the possibility of buying the iconic Hostess and Wonder Bread brands, but it is more than likely that they will just absorb the brands into current operations and will need few of the former Hostess Brands workers and their costly union wages and benefits.

Hurt is just trying to put a good face on a disastrous situation for his union. Accepting lower wages and benefits is never easy, but throwing his 5,600 striking members out of a job along with the nearly 13,000 employed by other unions, shows just how badly he misjudged the company’s threat to close down unless the workers accepted a new contract.

Well at least he lived up to his name by putting a big Hurt on his members, just before the holidays.